Mmutla, the rabbit had a problem convincing a large meeting of jungle dwellers that the animal kingdom must appoint a consultant to educate elephants on the dangers of felling trees before feeding on the juicy leaves. Mmutla, beina a natural enviromentalist had for many years watched with growing apprehension, the destruction of the mophane tree in particular, whose leafy branches were a delicacy for Tlou, the elephant and his large extended family. Despite being hounded by herdboys and their mangy dogs who preyed on her family for their favourite rabbit stew, Mmutla respected the fact that humans used the mophane tree for a variety of enviromental friendly activities. She had noticed that humans preferred to rest under the fanning shade of the mophane tree. She was not, however, very tolerant of the seasonal phane worms which infested the forest during the rainy seasons and ate virtually every leaf from the tree; but Mmutla had noted that the tree recovered quickly from the Phane invasion (which was in turn a delicacy for humans) and would in no time at all sway gracefully in the summer breeze, resplendent in fresh, newly grown buds. Here and there, humans would cut down the tree for wood, or use in the many prison cells they kept their domestic animals in, but such destruction was minimal when compared to the ravaging effects of an elephant family feeding frenzy.
The animal meeting was chaired by Kolobe, the giant warthog, who snorted frivolously, displaying his protruding teeth which most animals, and humans, mistook for tasks or horns.
"Look, Mmutla,"said Kolobe with a snort. "Tlou, doesn't like the likes of us messing up with his lifestyle. what makes you think he would listen to us? He's got a large family to feed."
"I know, Kolobe,"Mmutla replied. "But despite his size, Tlou is no fool. He will listen if we convince him that soon the mophane tree, which grows the most food for them, will be depleted and they will starve to death."
"And just how do you propose we give this message to Tlou," Setlhora, the squirrel, interjected. 'Tlou doesn't attend our meetings. He doesn't know how to sit."
There was a rumble of laughter among the animals.
"We send Tshoswane, the ant and his army,"Mmutla responded, at which point a murmur of disapproval was heard from the audience.
'Mmutla are you mad?" Kolobe asked, shocked at the prospect of such dangerous provocation on the elephant herd. Everybody knew what Tshoswane could do to the elephant. Everybody? No! Tshwene, the baboon had never heard of the dangers Tshoswane the ant posed at elephants. It was at that point that a deliriously amused Tshwene burst into fits of laughter, clapping his hands and slapping his rump as he continued laughing, tears streaming from his eyes. When he could control himself, he said, wiping tears with his gruffy paws:
"Mmutla, my girl. I knew it wasn't good for the brain for anyone to be as crafty as you are. You survive by running from virtually every meat eating animal including humans, you are even harassed by your own species because you chaps are always fighting for mating prowess...and making too many of your kind. Now you want us to send teeny weeny Tshoswane to fight Tlou the elephant?"
"I didnt say fight,"Mmutla responded. "Talk I said. Talk to them. Show them reason. They are animals, aren't they? They will understand."
It was at that point that a tiny voice spoke in high pitched tones from the audience. It was Tshoswane, the ant.
"Look, we ants are very busy beings as you all know. Now whilst all of you were busy talking, I sent messengers to Tlou to deliver our message. He is on his way here as I speak."
There was a chilled silence as each animal considered the various routes available for escape, if only it could be established as to which route Tlou would be arriving from. The animals knew that despite their massive sizes, elephants had the knack to suddenly appear on the scene.
"Hey, Tshoswane,"Kolobe said hurriedly. "Where do you get this bad habit of acting alone whenever we discuss animal matters? We don't all live in your anthill, you know!"
"Relax, everyone," Tshoswane responded. "My army is already swarming on every elephant trunk in this kingdom, ready to enter through the normal shaft, should we have any problems with the elephants."
There was a sudden violent sway of trees and a herd of giant elephants appeared before the rest of the animals. Tlou, the leader, was in massive presence. A cold chill ran through the animals and not a single sound escaped from their gaping mouths. Tlou, looked around the animals in his small beady eyes, using more smell than sight to identify the crowd before him.
"Look fellows,"said Tlou, his trunk hanging limply from his monstrous forehead. "There's no need for these conspiratorial looks and tones. We understand."
"You do?"Asked Kolobe, with relief.
"Yes, we do,"Tlou confirmed. "And Tshoswane, you can recall your men. They are traumatizing my family."
At which time, Tshoswane pursed his tiny lips and a silent whistle escaped. The animals saw tiny movements descending the trunks of each elephant and slipping into the undergrowth.
"Okay,"the elephant said with a breath of relief. "let me tell you folks something. we also live in this forest and we know its ways. We held our own meeting and decided that the mophane tree is endangered; but there's a quick solution. This tree is extremely flexible and bendy. We will now, simply bend it, eat the leaves and leave the tree to sprout fresh buds again."
There was an applause from all the animals, except Tshwene the baboon who looked bamboozled. He wanted to know how such huge animals as elephants, clothed in impenetrable thick coats, could be afraid of tiny creatures such as ants. Tshoswane took Tshwene aside and whispered:
"Biggest is not always mightiest my friend. We enter the elephant trunk, and this drives it into a mad rage as it slams the trunk against every conceivable object. The trunk, hosts the nostrils and once swollen from all the bashing, the elephant cant breathe. It takes one ant to to do the job."
After a brief, stunned silence, Tshwene best into fresh guffaws of laughter and scampered off after his troop of equally amused human-like forms. That meeting saved the Mophane tree and that is why it thrives best among most savanna trees.
THE END.
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